For Jose Maltos, Guillermo Villalobos and Maximiliano Soto, CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie’s CFL 2.0 vision is giving them the chance of a lifetime, an opportunity to make their professional football dreams come true.

It’s a longshot – maybe it happens, maybe it doesn’t – but it’s still an opportunity in a new country, a chance that’s got them excited. In mid-January, the CFL held a draft of Mexican players from the Liga de Futbol Americano Professional (LFA). Picking second, the Redblacks grabbed 27-year-old kicker Maltos, then later selected Villalobos, a receiver, and Soto, a defensive lineman.

Maltos is a 27-year-old kicker, a good one who got a look from the NFL’s New Orleans Saints in 2013, then was in training camp with the B.C. Lions before getting released a year ago. With Lewis Ward and Richie Leone already on the Ottawa depth chart, it’ll be an uphill climb for Maltos, but that hasn’t dulled his enthusiasm or his will to succeed.

“I’m always ready,” said Maltos, who’s coaching kickers at a university in Monterrey and also owns a cleaning company. “I’ve worked for this opportunity. I’m excited and grateful. Playing football (at the professional level) has been my dream since I started.”

“I’m super excited,” said Villalobos, who at 5-foot-10 has flashed pass-catching skills. “Man, when you’re a child and you’re playing this fabulous sport, you dream about this moment.”

“I come from a football family – my grandfather (Gustavo) and my father (Guillermo) played, my family loved football,” he said.

As far as getting ready for a new game with a wider field and new rules, Villalobos said: “I watched some videos, I saw some games. Of course, it’s different. There’s more space. One of the things I like most about the CFL is the passing game – it’s good for a receiver.”

And then there’s the Ultimate Warrior-like face paint he sometimes wears during games. Asked about it, he said: “I’m another person on the field, I forget everything else and just focus on the game. That’s why I wear the paint.”

Can the Mexican players make an impact in the CFL?

Said Redblacks coach Rick Campbell: “The idea behind it – in the other big sports like hockey, baseball and basketball, the international guys have had a big influence on TV markets and people watching the game. We want football to be that way, too.”

Will any of them be Redblacks for the 2019 season?

“They’re interesting guys,” said Campbell. “I was in Mexico City (for the draft) so I’ve seen these guys. We’ll have a little patience and let them feel the speed of the game. These guys are going to get a shot just like everyone else. We’re not going to pre-determine what happens. We’ll let them play and see what happens. If there’s one that contributes this year, that’s a big deal – this whole initiative and program has just started. ”

“We haven’t seen a lot of these guys, we’ll see what they’re able to do for us over the next three days and into main camp,” said GM Marcel Desjardins. “We need to be able to put them into the best position to have success. It’ll be a steep learning curve for them, but they’re here and we feel they’ll be able to contribute in some way.”

GETTING IT GOING

The Redblacks will hold rookie camp sessions Thursday and Friday (8:30-10:30 a.m.) at TD Place (open to the public). Regular training camp, with the full roster, begins Sunday (8 a.m.-noon). Asked about the first day of rookie camp, Campbell said: “There was good energy, it was good. It was a credit to the players and coaches for only having one meeting and being able to come out there. We threw a lot of stuff at them, then we ran a team period, ran skelly and did all kinds of stuff. One down and a long way to go.”

PIERRE BACK HOME

It’s been awhile since Tyrone Pierre played a football game in Ottawa, his home town. He’s hoping to get an opportunity to do it regularly; he’s in rookie camp with the Redblacks this week.

Drafted in the fifth round (41st overall) by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 2018, he injured his knee, then re-aggravated it in a car accident. He was released by the Bombers in training camp, re-signed and added to the practice roster, then cut again. It was quite a rollercoaster ride for the former Laval University pass catcher.

“It was a tough pill to swallow at times, but I was able to watch more film, study a bit more and perfect my craft in other ways (last season),” said Pierre Wednesday. “I feel good right now. I was definitely excited (when I was signed by the Redblacks). I haven’t played at home since high school so it definitely brings back memories. Playing in my hometown, I’m sure it’s everybody’s dream.”

Right now, he’s not getting ahead of himself, thinking about how he may fit in a depth chart that already includes Canadians Brad Sinopoli, Nate Behar and Julian Feoli-Gudino … and others.

“I don’t look too much at the depth charts, whatever Coach tells me to do, I’m going to do or wherever he tells me to go, I’m going to do,” said Pierre. “I’m looking forward to Day 2 and Day 3 – hopefully I get into the rhythm of things and play a lot faster.”

THE END AROUND

Coming into rookie camp, the Redblacks announced they had signed four of their selections from the CFL Draft: DL Thomas Grant, DL Samson Abbott, WR Wesley Lewis and FB Gabriel Polan. OL Chris Martin, who was briefly with the Redblacks last year before getting injured, was also signed. Two players were released: DB Tay Glover-Wright and LB Drew Morris … The CFL’s Canadian Quarterback Internship program has landed St. FX University’s Bailey Wasdal in Redblacks camp. A 6-1, 193-lb. business student from Calgary, Wasdal wrapped up his first season with the AUS champion X-Men. Ottawa Gee-Gees QB Sawyer Buettner will be in camp with the Blue Bombers.